Another iPod Listener Struck By Lightning
from the is-it-a-message? dept
It's happened again: Aaron points us to a story about an iPod listener in Canada who was struck by lightning, suffering major injuries in the process. This isn't the first time someone has been listening to an iPod before getting struck, although it bears repeating that there's nothing about an iPod (or a mobile phone for that matter) that would actually attract lightning (unless you think that God doesn't like iPod listeners, though that can't be demonstrated through science). In this case, the iPod listener happened to be sitting underneath a tree, which probably had a little more to do with it. Doctors think that perhaps the headphones may have caused the electricity to move towards the head, exacerbating the injuries, although the slim chances of this happening to someone probably doesn't justify the cost of getting bluetooth headphones.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Doc's Warning
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Reading News
Also, in light of Techdirt talking of this article, I feel the need to post a couple of the Fark headlines of the articles (Fark is awesome just for those tiny headlines, so amusing) (the first one also goes with whats mentioned above):
*FARK 1*
Article headline: "Lightning strikes reported by iPod users". Five paragraphs later: "Contrary to some media reports, electronic devices don't attract lightning." Fine-reporting-there-Lou
*FARK 2*
Experts warn that getting struck by lighting while using an iPod could injure you. As opposed to other electronic devices, which are made of 100 percent insulated rubber
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Re: Reading News
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Anything that cleans up the gene pool
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Honestly
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Re: Honestly
The headphone wires are made of fine, stranded copper wire. They probably have some measure of sheilding around that too. Odds are good that the high frequencies in the lightning strike would travel along the outside of the headphone wires and not in them.
Think of lightning flowing over rather than than flowing through.
There are amazingly large amounts of current that flow through things when the lightning connects but a lot of the time (always when the human survives?) they were actually shocked by one of the streamers that comes off from the main bolt.
I've been indirectly struck by lightning twice. Once back in the "old days" of corded phones I had my knees literally fold right up while I was standing there talking. It hit me on the chin and boom, down in a heap. The second time was riding my motorcycle, a BMW with crash bars around the cylinders. A fairly close strike caused a very large (guessing 6" or so) static arc from the left crashbar to my knee.
I think I'll buy an iPod and go for three.
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Scientists are still investigation the hypothesis that arms might also be a factor in people being struck by lightning since its rumored that having two of them increases your chance of getting struck by 17.3%. Other items being investigated are watches, wallets, and keys.
More news at 11.
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Re:
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Proof?
Anyone think this is proof the Steve Jobs has a deal with the devil? iPod users are marked for extinction? I wonder if iPhone users will share the same fate?
"Look at my shiny new iPhone! I'll go use it beneath that tree to avoid this sudden lightening storm." *bzzzt* - the slight scent of electrically charged apple pie fills the air.
Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the tree.
What will Zune users be struck by? Feelings of solitude?
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Lightning
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the news was better this time...
and also, the article was technically correct when they said electronic devices don't attract lightning. it should say that devices don't attract lightning solely based on being electronic. i mean, a huge antenna is an electronic device that *does* attract lightning... but thats not because its electronic, its due to his physical size and other various properties. an electronic device does not inherently attract lightning just because its electronic.
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Lessons to be learned
1. You will most likely ruin your ipod, due to water damage (duh)
2. You will be struck down by the wrath of big baby jesus for buying a trendy, overpriced mp3 player
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Re: Lessons to be learned
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Re: Re: Lessons to be learned
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Re: Lessons to be learned
right, keep repeating ad nauseum and maybe people will believe you
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Re: Re: Lessons to be learned
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Correction
Also (in an ironic twist), the article that appeared in my local paper yesterday claimed that the guy was in a church choir and was listening to some classical religious music at the time of the accident! He suffered 50% loss of hearing in both ears and has since had to leave the choir.
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Mathematically correlated, but not direct "cause and effect"... Understanding these facts is something the general public and reporters are nearly completey ignorant. Statistics should be a full year of training for journalism school, as they "interpret and report" on so many of these types of stories and medical findings to the public. Usually, their reporting is a dis-service, especially when the headlines are so inflammatory and mis-leading to the actual facts.
Dr. Rings, MD
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The News
In one case, the guy was sitting under a tree. In the other, the guy was jogging.
Both had their eardrums blow to some extent.
One of them (don't recall which) was in a choir and could no longer participate.
So, it just depends on if you are referring to the case that just happened, or the one that happened awhile ago as to where the guy was, etc etc.
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iPods only
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Bill Gates IS God....
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Oh dear...
And commentor #7 I'd dare you to find a Zune owner to ask.
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Re: Oh dear...
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I FEEL SAFER WITH MY ZUNE
Billions of volts will ricochet off you like malware bounces off Windows.
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Re: I FEEL SAFER WITH MY ZUNE
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Ridicules
Total BS reporting.
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Does God hate iPod users more than golfers?
Maybe we are missing something. Could these lightning fatalities actually have something else in common?
Perhaps every unfortunate lightning rod was listening to "A Prairie Home Companion" podcast. In this light getting zapped by an angry God is entirely understandable.
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Re:
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Re #33
But I think I have given up on that ...
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This was disappointing
Something should be done.
BTW, users of 'competitively priced' mp3 players have never been struck by lightning. Not once.
just sayin'...
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stupid forigners
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Re: stupid forigners
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stupid forigners
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Re: stupid forigners
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Re: Re: stupid forigners
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Electric Shocks from Headphones
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In response.
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